The new Dark Moon Preserve is reachable via the following directions for Mud
Pond in Warren County.

From New York City, take US 80 west to Exit 19. Turn/bear
right onto Route 612 north. Nearing Johnsonburg center turn right onto route
519; then turn left onto Route 661 (Ramsey Road). At the T-intersection,
turn right onto Route 94. Drive into Sussex County and turn right on
Yellow Frame Road. For Mud Pond you would drive down the road and across from a
house with horses you would park at the pull-off space near an open field and
then walk along the eastern side of the field until you would pick up the trail
as you entered the woods at the end of the field. But they have
added new lands and so before getting to the Mud Pond parking area, find the
section set of yellow nature markers and park by a gate. (I have not gone
this way yet, so can't vouch for the approach. Hope to get into it soon.
4/24/04.)

History:

The Lenape Indians lived in the area and the most notable local
archaeological excavation of their culture occurred over a seven year period at
Dark Moon in Frelinghuysen Township. The Lenape had their lodges and huts here
at what was a kind of arrowhead factory. The Lenape quarried flint from
the local limestone to produce thousands of flint points. They would bury
the excess arrowheads for later use. The findings here were the basis for the
recreated Lenape settlement at Waterloo Village. (from "A Video History" by
Debra Natyzak; http://www.njskylands.com/hsvoices.htm)

The preserve is named after the Dark Moon site, a well-established Native
American site in the region that gives its name to Dark Moon Road and nearby
Dark Moon Farm.

The acquisition of the land formerly owned by Green Village Packing Company
expands the Johnsonburg Preserve into Sussex County. For the Ridge and Valley
Conservancy the acquisition is its first in Sussex County and opens the door to
expand the preserve into neighboring undeveloped areas of Green Township.

Ridge and Valley Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Green Township, and
Morris Land Conservancy joined to protect the land. For The Nature Conservancy
the acquisition expands their larger Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve.

Habitat:

prime example of a limestone community in New Jersey. Limestone communities
contain a large concentration of significant plants and animals, including a
number of rare and endangered animals such as the longtail salamander and plants
such as showy ladyslipper and is home to a calcareous forest of mixed hardwoods,
limestone outcroppings that host rare plants, caves, springs and sinkholes.

7/07/04. I still don't know exactly what property is Mud Pond property
and which is Dark Moon property. I did notice, however, that there are a
lot more yellow Nature Sanctuary signs on Yellow Frame Road. Where there
was one area with the yellow signs, there are now four such areas.

I parked near the gate (0.5 of a mile east of Route 94) on Yellow Frame Road
just past house #46. I started walking on a very rough path with lots of
multiflora rose, Asiatic bittersweet and autumn olive competing with each other
to close off the path. I walked along a lot of fields, gradually making my
way over to Route 94. I got off the path by mistake and came to what I
thought was someone's backyard. I discovered that it was the backyard of some
stores on Route 94 (Wilbur's Country Store, the Hitching Post, and some others).
I did find somewhat of a formal opening for the nature preserve with those
yellow signs on two short posts on the southern side of the property belonging
to the above named stores. I was wondering if one could park on the
commercial property near the posts and then go on from there.